Aldous Huxley is considered by some to be a visionary as his works, such as Brave New World, often stray into the realm of the future. As the New York Times can attest, however, Huxley has been surprisingly accurate in his "satirical predicition of a distant future becom[ing] reality in so short a time." One quote, in particular, from Brave New World demonstrates Huxley's aptitude for satire: "But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin." This quote from John Savage in chapter 16 should be interpreted figuratively as Huxley uses many satirical techniques with the intent to ridicule modern society.
The most critical aspect of understanding Huxley's satirical motives is to first understand the quote and its context. The Savage's quote is found at the end of chapter 16, and serves as a sort of thesis statement for the Savage in his debate with world controller Mustapha Mond. At first glance, the quote seems to contradict itself, as "God" and "sin" seem to be complete opposites, while having both "danger" and "goodness" seems to be a rather foolish desire. The quote, however, is in response to a particularly unique argument from Mond. Throughout the debate, Mond makes it clear that he supports the Brave New Worldians' system of suppressing both religion and freedom in favor of "happiness and stability." The Savage, on the other hand, desires freedom and the opportunity to overcome his own obstacles in life. Considering the context of the Savage's quote, one should interpret the quote not as a contradiction, but as a plea for freedom. In the Savage's mind, he sees the Brave New Worldians methods of controlling and conditioning as a form of suppression, so he desperately defends the old world's (and our world's) philosophy of free will. When the Savage states both that he wants "God" and that he wants "sin", what he means is that he desires both to have the option to worship a deity and to have the opportunity to commit a sin under his own influence. While the Savage does not want to sin necessarily, he recognizes that, in order to be free, one must be able to choose between sin and morality, neither of which are choices for the Brave New Worldians. In the same way, Huxley includes concepts such as poetry, goodness, and danger in the Savage's argument. In every case, the existence of each has been terminated, and Huxley, through the Savage's quote, argues that each must be experienced in order to achieve freedom and, therefore, happiness.
Though the Savage's quote addresses directly the flaws in the Brave New Worldians' society, it also functions as a Juvenalian satire of 1930's society. Traditionally, a satirical composition seeks to ridicule human frailty and vices, and, in the case of this quote, Huxley certainly addresses the vices of his society. Huxley's main satirical motives were to inform his audience of their society's flaws and to rectify the issues before the society became Brave New Worldian, and traditionalists would be forced to fight for freedom as the Savage did. Huxley uses three satirical techniques in order to convey this message. Firstly, Huxley uses reductio ad absurdum in the Savage's quote to introduce a truth about his society. The Savage's quote comes across as extreme to the reader because it is unusual to hear a person longing for both "sin" and "danger." Typically, a character would desire some positive redeeming qualities in the face of evil, but the Savage's plea for these two negative forces seems, at first glance, counterintuitive. As Huxley continues to assert that evils are a necessary part of a happy life, however, the reader should realize that his argument is valid. While 1930's society was not corrupt enough to warrant such an extreme request, the fact that freedom of choice, whether leading to good or evil, should be preserved is a logical conclusion. Huxley utilizes the extremity of the Savage's requests as a way of catching the reader's attention, and forcing them to consider the value of the entire spectrum of human experience. Another satirical technique that Huxley includes in the quote is paradox. Although forces such as goodness and danger contradict each other as well, the chief paradox of the Savage's statement is his desire for both God and sin. Literally, God and sin are essentially opposites as God is seen as a savior from the evils of sin. In context, however, the Savage's wish for both is well founded. Throughout his entire debate with Mond, the Savage argues against the Brave New World's theological standpoints with comments such as "...God's the reason for everything noble and fine and heroic." The Savage recognizes that there is ultimately a higher force at work in any society, one that cannot be emulated at any level of scientific advancement. Mond attempted to take away not only God, though; he attempted to erase the possibility of sin, and, in turn, instability. However, the Savage recognizes that, in order to achieve a sinless environment, individual freedom must be sacrificed. It is at this point that the Savage, along with the 1930's society, disagrees with Mond's philosophy. Therefore, the Savage's request for both "God" and "sin" is a clever request as it ensures both the existence of freedom, and the possibility of individual morality. Because Huxley is ultimately concerned about the views of his society, he includes this paradox as an argument for freedom of choice. The final satirical technique that Huxley uses in the quote is exaggeration. Although the Savage's requests for "God" and "sin" are to be interpreted literally, the context in which the Savage says them is exaggerated. The Savage's quote comes in response to Mond's argument for suppression by means of soma and conditioning, practices that were not available in the 1930's. These made-up practices are Huxley's exaggeration of the extent to which 1930's government was able to control its citizens. Huxley's purpose in exaggerating this scenario was, as in the use paradox and abductio ad absurdum, to warn his society not to sacrifice their freedom for a state of forced happiness.
When Huxley published Brave New World in 1932, technological advances such as mass production were rapidly changing the way the world operated. Such advancements undoubtedly lead Huxley to consider what the future of technology could hold, and, as a result, caused Huxley to foresee the possibility of a Brave New World-type environment. The practical upshot of this background is for the reader to realize that society had not become like the Brave New World, it merely possessed the potential to evolve into it. Huxley was obviously quite concerned about the path of his society, though, as Brave New World is filled with satirical remarks, like the Savage's in chapter 16, regarding Huxley's somewhat exaggerated opinion as to the values of his society. Through the Savage, Huxley is quick to criticize the Brave New Worldian society and eager to demonstrate the necessity of freedom and individuality, values which Huxley contends must not be easily forgotten.
Aldous Huxley is considered by some to be a visionary as his works, such as Brave New World, often stray into the realm of the future. As the New York Times can attest, however, Huxley has been surprisingly accurate in his "satirical predicition of a distant future becom[ing] reality in so short a time." One quote, in particular, from Brave New World demonstrates Huxley's aptitude for satire: "But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin." This quote from John Savage in chapter 16 should be interpreted figuratively as Huxley uses many satirical techniques with the intent to ridicule modern society.
The most critical aspect of understanding Huxley's satirical motives is to first understand the quote and its context. The Savage's quote is found at the end of chapter 16, and serves as a sort of thesis statement for the Savage in his debate with world controller Mustapha Mond. At first glance, the quote seems to contradict itself, as "God" and "sin" seem to be complete opposites, while having both "danger" and "goodness" seems to be a rather foolish desire. The quote, however, is in response to a particularly unique argument from Mond. Throughout the debate, Mond makes it clear that he supports the Brave New Worldians' system of suppressing both religion and freedom in favor of "happiness and stability." The Savage, on the other hand, desires freedom and the opportunity to overcome his own obstacles in life. Considering the context of the Savage's quote, one should interpret the quote not as a contradiction, but as a plea for freedom. In the Savage's mind, he sees the Brave New Worldians methods of controlling and conditioning as a form of suppression, so he desperately defends the old world's (and our world's) philosophy of free will. When the Savage states both that he wants "God" and that he wants "sin", what he means is that he desires both to have the option to worship a deity and to have the opportunity to commit a sin under his own influence. While the Savage does not want to sin necessarily, he recognizes that, in order to be free, one must be able to choose between sin and morality, neither of which are choices for the Brave New Worldians. In the same way, Huxley includes concepts such as poetry, goodness, and danger in the Savage's argument. In every case, the existence of each has been terminated, and Huxley, through the Savage's quote, argues that each must be experienced in order to achieve freedom and, therefore, happiness.
Though the Savage's quote addresses directly the flaws in the Brave New Worldians' society, it also functions as a Juvenalian satire of 1930's society. Traditionally, a satirical composition seeks to ridicule human frailty and vices, and, in the case of this quote, Huxley certainly addresses the vices of his society. Huxley's main satirical motives were to inform his audience of their society's flaws and to rectify the issues before the society became Brave New Worldian, and traditionalists would be forced to fight for freedom as the Savage did. Huxley uses three satirical techniques in order to convey this message. Firstly, Huxley uses reductio ad absurdum in the Savage's quote to introduce a truth about his society. The Savage's quote comes across as extreme to the reader because it is unusual to hear a person longing for both "sin" and "danger." Typically, a character would desire some positive redeeming qualities in the face of evil, but the Savage's plea for these two negative forces seems, at first glance, counterintuitive. As Huxley continues to assert that evils are a necessary part of a happy life, however, the reader should realize that his argument is valid. While 1930's society was not corrupt enough to warrant such an extreme request, the fact that freedom of choice, whether leading to good or evil, should be preserved is a logical conclusion. Huxley utilizes the extremity of the Savage's requests as a way of catching the reader's attention, and forcing them to consider the value of the entire spectrum of human experience. Another satirical technique that Huxley includes in the quote is paradox. Although forces such as goodness and danger contradict each other as well, the chief paradox of the Savage's statement is his desire for both God and sin. Literally, God and sin are essentially opposites as God is seen as a savior from the evils of sin. In context, however, the Savage's wish for both is well founded. Throughout his entire debate with Mond, the Savage argues against the Brave New World's theological standpoints with comments such as "...God's the reason for everything noble and fine and heroic." The Savage recognizes that there is ultimately a higher force at work in any society, one that cannot be emulated at any level of scientific advancement. Mond attempted to take away not only God, though; he attempted to erase the possibility of sin, and, in turn, instability. However, the Savage recognizes that, in order to achieve a sinless environment, individual freedom must be sacrificed. It is at this point that the Savage, along with the 1930's society, disagrees with Mond's philosophy. Therefore, the Savage's request for both "God" and "sin" is a clever request as it ensures both the existence of freedom, and the possibility of individual morality. Because Huxley is ultimately concerned about the views of his society, he includes this paradox as an argument for freedom of choice. The final satirical technique that Huxley uses in the quote is exaggeration. Although the Savage's requests for "God" and "sin" are to be interpreted literally, the context in which the Savage says them is exaggerated. The Savage's quote comes in response to Mond's argument for suppression by means of soma and conditioning, practices that were not available in the 1930's. These made-up practices are Huxley's exaggeration of the extent to which 1930's government was able to control its citizens. Huxley's purpose in exaggerating this scenario was, as in the use paradox and abductio ad absurdum, to warn his society not to sacrifice their freedom for a state of forced happiness.
When Huxley published Brave New World in 1932, technological advances such as mass production were rapidly changing the way the world operated. Such advancements undoubtedly lead Huxley to consider what the future of technology could hold, and, as a result, caused Huxley to foresee the possibility of a Brave New World-type environment. The practical upshot of this background is for the reader to realize that society had not become like the Brave New World, it merely possessed the potential to evolve into it. Huxley was obviously quite concerned about the path of his society, though, as Brave New World is filled with satirical remarks, like the Savage's in chapter 16, regarding Huxley's somewhat exaggerated opinion as to the values of his society. Through the Savage, Huxley is quick to criticize the Brave New Worldian society and eager to demonstrate the necessity of freedom and individuality, values which Huxley contends must not be easily forgotten.